Reports state

[transam]

Seems likely ( obvious) that the US had people on the inside close to moduro who sobbed him in ???

 

[transam]

He doesn’t work or think like that.

Dunno what you are on about

Truth is neither do you

So best advised you take yer medication in your case a string laxative so as to clear yer ead out

 

[transam]

Nothing new

Obama went after bin laden in Pakistan

Reagan in Grenada

Than there was that Panama caper

Carter f ed up over that Iran / hostage caper

 

[Munroast]

.

 

[fillyboy]

seriously, not sure what to make of it, I'm sure half of Venezuela are delighted, and providing a Venezuelan gov is put in power soon (very soon) then he may have done a good thing.

Pretty much my thoughts, although I think more than half of the people will be delighted, bearing in mind something like 90% voted against Maduro in the last election.
Maria Corina Machado might be the best shot as a 'caretaker' until democratic elections can be organised (which she might well win). I'm not sure about the military, a lot of them would have been on some sort of bonus scheme with Maduro.

 

[fillyboy]

Maria Corina Machado

She was quite a hero to many on here when she got the Nobel prize ahead of Trump. What you won't have read on here is how Trump phoned her to congratulate her on the prize, and her very vocal support for Trumps action against the drug boats.
She is a huge fan of the Donald.

 

[Munroast]

Pretty much my thoughts, although I think more than half of the people will be delighted, bearing in mind something like 90% voted against Maduro in the last election.
Maria Corina Machado might be the best shot as a 'caretaker' until democratic elections can be organised (which she might well win). I'm not sure about the military, a lot of them would have been on some sort of bonus scheme with Maduro.

they're culturally spannish - so they will be happy to be on whatever side is winning, along as they get a long enough siesta

 

[blup]

Maria Corina Machado would be in with a good shout, and despite her taking the Nobel price, she seems to be on remarkably good terms with the Donald.
Could be the start of a beautiful friendship.

Would you be Trumpf’s (unelected) pupppet?

 

[transam]

Would you be Trumpf’s (unelected) pupppet?

Depends what he is paying ??

 

[blup]

Depends what he is paying ??

It’s a black gooey international currency

 

[blup]

*snigger*

Maduro won’t take the job, she might clean up after the US puppet gives up

 

[transam]

It’s a black gooey international currency

I’m in Providing it’s turned into dollars

 

[blup]

I’m in Providing it’s turned into dollars

Euros are stronger against the dollar and the pound atm.

 

[MNW67]

Interesting and succinct article about Venezuela's oil and how we got to where we are:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/rrapier/2026/01/03/venezuela-maduro-and-the-long-shadow-of-oil-expropriation/

A couple of snippets:

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Venezuela holds roughly 303 billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves, the largest total of any country in the world.

But that headline figure obscures a critical reality: most of Venezuela’s oil is ultra-heavy crude, concentrated in the Orinoco Belt. Unlike light, sweet crude produced in places like the Permian Basin, Orinoco crude is dense, viscous, and difficult to move. Producing it at scale requires heating, dilution with lighter hydrocarbons, and upgrading in specialized facilities before it can be refined. The extra level of processing also means it requires higher oil prices to be economical.

For decades, Venezuela relied on partnerships with U.S. and European oil companies to provide the technology, capital, and operational expertise required to make that system work. Those partnerships would not survive the 2000s.

Expropriation And The Unraveling Of PDVSA​

While Venezuela formally nationalized its oil industry in the 1970s, beginning in the early 2000s under President Hugo Chávez, Venezuela moved beyond its earlier state ownership model and launched a wave of expropriations that fundamentally reshaped its oil sector. Foreign operators were forced into minority positions alongside Venezuela’s national oil company, PDVSA, or saw assets seized outright. Major U.S. firms, including ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips, ultimately exited the country and pursued international arbitration over uncompensated takings.

 

[blup]

The mission has become the justification for many, the shock and awe, somehow justifies the gross breach of international law.